Operation Historical Goose

In June of 2003 President Russell called on SPPA members to work on a historical goose project.  Let's take action now. I've taken up the fight for the Pomeranian and our heritage goose breeds. I have purchased my seed stock.  More scouts and troops are needed for this cause.

Contact me for more information:

Jord Wilson

7450 Bryant Road

Lexington, OK 73051

Jlwgardenman@yahoo.com

405-527-4782 please leave a message

Our Proud History

Description of Historical Pomeranian

It is well documented that the Pomeranian comes from the Pomorze region and is well entrenched in Germany, Poland and Slavic States around the Baltic region.  Chris Ashton in her book Domestic Geese talks about a Western Greylag and an Eastern Greylag.  During the last ice age the Greylag was divided into two distinct races.  The western race has more orange in the bill, while the eastern race is bigger, slightly paler in plumage and has an attractive pink bill. The Pomeranian is a descendant of the Eastern Greylag

In SPPA Bulletin FALL ISSUE September 2003, President Russell said,  This breed descended from the Eastern Greylag, which is why true Pomeranians have pinkish red beak, legs and feet.  The single lobe is also unique to the Pomeranian in respect to its Greylag cousins.

Authors like Dr. J. Batty claim that the Pomeranian is from a Toulouse Embden cross.  I disagree.  The Toulouse Embden cross is what gave us the English Greybacks and Buff Backs and the American Saddlebacks.   All three of these breeds also have Pomeranian in them.  And their standard represents that.     However, the Historical Pomeranian is a different breed with its lineage linked to the Baltic-Eastern Greylag.  The Historical Pomeranian has been a major working goose in America.  This is also the root of the confusion.

Tackling the Confusion:

Greyback, buff back, pied, spotted or saddleback refers to the pattern of the goose.  These do not identify the breed of the goose.  Some breeds that have these markings are the British Buff Back, British Greyback, American Saddleback and the Historical Pomeranian.  Because it is a saddleback, does not make it a Pomeranian.  More work needs done on ironing out specific language used to identify the two breeds as separate entities.

Goals

Declaration of Intent

I think this project can be well under way in the next 5 years and substantial seed flocks should be available in 5-10 years.   It would be great to get the breed accepted into the Standard of Perfection.  Recognition would help the Historical Pomeranians survival.  Acceptance in the standard doesn?t secure its survival, but it opens the door for those that breed to show.  At this point the Historical Pomeranian needs all the help it can get.

I would like to see:

1.   A forum developed so that there can be an exchange of information,breeding strategies and progress of the breed.

2.   A group of breeders identified that want to be involved in searching for stock, purchasing stock and developing breeding programs.

3.   A respectful rapport with the American Saddleback breeders.

4.  Goose eaters, to verify the claims that the pink billed geese make superb dinner, and round up recipes to extols the great eating benefits of the Pomeranian.

5.  Genes and traits identified that are vital to the Historical Pomeranian.

6.   A standard adopted for the historical Pomeranian that includes all five of its colors--gray, white, buff, buff back and gray back.

7.   A breeder list developed and its strains documented.

8.  Its history, historical importance and important notes compiled and presented to the SPPA for its use in a breed manual.

9.  A close working relationship with the Publicity Director of the SPPA.

Conclusion:

Whether or not the APA recognizes the Historical Pomeranian it is an important project for the SPPA.  It is too important of a project for a few to make all the decisions.  Many people need to be involved in the process to make the final result legitimate.  The more involved the more successful the end results will be.  And ultimately the Historical Pomeranian will be out of its current dire straits onto its next couple hundred years of existence.  Join me in this mission.

Jord Wilson